Suchergebnisse

This programme examines the levels, trends and effects of contaminants in biota along the coast of Norway. The 2014-investigation included analyses of 136 different contaminants or biological effect parameters in five types of samples (blue mussel, dog whelk, common periwinkle, cod and passive samplers). The contaminants include metals (Hg, Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, Ag, As, Ni, Cr and Co), organochlorines (e.g. PCBs, DDT), PAHs, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), perfluorinated alkylated substances (PFAS) as well as contaminants that have recently received more attention such as hexabromcyclododecane (HBCDs), chlorinated paraffins (SCCP, MCCP), phosphorus flame retardants (PFRs),bisphenol A (BPA), tetrabrombisphenol A (TBBPA), alkyphenols, phthalates, triclosan, Diuron and Irgarol. Biological effects parameters included VDSI, OH-pyrene metabolites, ALA-D and EROD. In the report, thirty representative substances or parameters were chosen for analyses of 759 time series (last 10 years). Of these there were statistically significant trends in 104 cases: 86 were downwards and 18 upwards. The dominance of downward trends indicated that contamination is decreasing for the measured substances. The downwards trends for TBT-concentrations and effect parameter (VDSI) confirmed that the legislation banning the use of TBT has been effective. Of the same 759 cases, 403 could be classified by the environmental classification system used by the Norwegian Environment Agency, 374 were classified as insignificantly polluted, 26 as moderately polluted, two as markedly polluted and one as extremely polluted. Some cases warrant special concern, such as upward trend for mercury in cod fillet and high concentrations of several organic pollutants in cod liver from the Inner Oslofjord. Very high concentrations of DDE in mussels from the Sørfjord were related to earlier use of DDT as pesticide in orchards along the fjord. The relation of fish length on mercury concentration and affect of different sizes of pooled samples were examined. Alternatives to using cod liver as a target tissue was discussed. ; Denne undersøkelsen omhandler nivåer, trender og effekter av miljøgifter langs norskekysten. I tillegg til en mer langsiktig overvåking er det også gjort analyser av enkelte nyere miljøgifter som har fått større oppmerksomhet de senere årene. Undersøkelsen gir grunnlag for vurdering av miljøstatus for miljøgifter langs kysten. Resultatene viser at det hovedsakelig var nedadgående trender for forekomst av de undersøkte miljøgiftene. ; Miljødirektoratet

This programme examines the levels, trends and effects of contaminants in biota along the coast of Norway. The 2015-investigation included analyses of 108 different contaminants or biological effect parameters in five types of samples (blue mussel, dog whelk, common periwinkle, cod and passive samplers). The contaminants include metals (Ag, As, Hg, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn), tributyltin (TBT), organochlorines (e.g. PCBs, DDT), PAHs, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), perfluorinated alkylated substances (PFAS) as well as contaminants that have recently received much attention such as hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDs), chlorinated paraffins (SCCP, MCCP), phosphorus flame retardants (PFRs), bisphenol A (BPA), tetrabrombisphenol A (TBBPA) and alkyphenols. Biological effects parameters included VDSI, OHpyrene metabolites, ALA-D and EROD. In the report, 30 representative substances or parameters were chosen for analyses of 829 time series (last 10 years). Of these there were statistically significant trends in 98 cases: 81 were downwards and 17 upwards. The dominance of downward trends indicated that contamination is decreasing for the measured substances. The downwards trends for TBT-concentrations and effect parameter (VDSI) confirmed that the legislation banning the use of TBT has been effective. Of the same 829 cases, 431 could be classified by the environmental classification system used by the Norwegian Environment Agency. 378 were classified as insignificantly polluted, 48 as moderately polluted, four as markedly polluted and one as severely polluted. Some cases warrant special concern, such as upward trend for mercury in cod fillet and high concentrations of several organic pollutants in cod liver from the Inner Oslofjord. High concentrations of DDE in mussels from the Sørfjord were related to earlier use of DDT as pesticide in orchards along the fjord. The relation of fish length on contaminant concentration was examined. Application of quality standards in biota were discussed. ; Norwegian Environment Agency / Miljødirektoratet

This programme examines the levels, trends and effects of contaminants in biota along the coast of Norway. The 2013-investigation included analyses of 120 different contaminants or biological effect parameters in five types of samples (blue mussel, dog whelk, common periwinkle, cod and passive samplers). The contaminants include metals, organochlorines (e.g. PCB, DDT), PAH, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE), perfluroinated alkylated substances (PFAS) as well as contaminants that have recently received more attention such as hexabromcyclododecane (HBCD), chlorinated paraffins (SCCP, MCCP), phosphorus flame retardants (PFR), bisphenol A (BPA), tetrabrombisphenol A (TBBPA), phthalates and akylphenols. In the report, thirty representative substances or parameters were chosen for analyses of 750 time series (last 10 years). Of these there were statistically significant trends in 90 cases: 66 (9 %) were downwards and 24 (3 %) upwards. The dominance of downward trends indicated that contamination is decreasing for the measured substances. The downwards trends for TBT-concentrations and effect parameter (VDSI) confirmed that the legislation banning the use of TBT has been effective. Of the same 750 cases, 399 could be classified by the environmental classification system used by the Norwegian Environment Agency, 360 (90 %) were classified as insignificantly polluted, 27 (7 %) as moderately polluted, 10 (3 %) as markedly polluted, 1 (<1 %) as severely polluted and 1 (<1 %) as extremely polluted. Some cases warrant special concern, such as upward trend for mercury in cod fillet and high concentrations of several organic pollutants in cod liver from the Inner Oslofjord. Very high concentrations of DDE in mussels from the Sørfjord were related to earlier use of DDT as pesticide in orchards along the fjord. ; Miljødirektoratet

We reviewed compliance monitoring requirements in the European Union, the United States, and the Oslo-Paris Convention for the protection of the marine environment of the North-East Atlantic, and evaluated if these are met by passive sampling methods for nonpolar compounds. The strengths and shortcomings of passive sampling are assessed for water, sediments, and biota. Passive water sampling is a suitable technique for measuring concentrations of freely dissolved compounds. This method yields results that are incompatible with the EU's quality standard definition in terms of total concentrations in water, but this definition has little scientific basis. Insufficient quality control is a present weakness of passive sampling in water. Laboratory performance studies and the development of standardized methods are needed to improve data quality and to encourage the use of passive sampling by commercial laboratories and monitoring agencies. Successful prediction of bioaccumulation based on passive sampling is well documented for organisms at the lower trophic levels, but requires more research for higher levels. Despite the existence of several knowledge gaps, passive sampling presently is the best available technology for chemical monitoring of nonpolar organic compounds. Key issues to be addressed by scientists and environmental managers are outlined.

AbstractThe Partnership for Chemicals Risk Assessment (PARC) is currently under development as a joint research and innovation programme to strengthen the scientific basis for chemical risk assessment in the EU. The plan is to bring chemical risk assessors and managers together with scientists to accelerate method development and the production of necessary data and knowledge, and to facilitate the transition to next-generation evidence-based risk assessment, a non-toxic environment and the European Green Deal. The NORMAN Network is an independent, well-established and competent network of more than 80 organisations in the field of emerging substances and has enormous potential to contribute to the implementation of the PARC partnership. NORMAN stands ready to provide expert advice to PARC, drawing on its long experience in the development, harmonisation and testing of advanced tools in relation to chemicals of emerging concern and in support of a European Early Warning System to unravel the risks of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) and close the gap between research and innovation and regulatory processes. In this commentary we highlight the tools developed by NORMAN that we consider most relevant to supporting the PARC initiative: (i) joint data space and cutting-edge research tools for risk assessment of contaminants of emerging concern; (ii) collaborative European framework to improve data quality and comparability; (iii) advanced data analysis tools for a European early warning system and (iv) support to national and European chemical risk assessment thanks to harnessing, combining and sharing evidence and expertise on CECs. By combining the extensive knowledge and experience of the NORMAN network with the financial and policy-related strengths of the PARC initiative, a large step towards the goal of a non-toxic environment can be taken.

Water is a vital resource for natural ecosystems and human life, and assuring a high quality of water and protecting it from chemical contamination is a major societal goal in the European Union. The Water Framework Directive (WFD) and its daughter directives are the major body of legislation for the protection and sustainable use of European freshwater resources. The practical implementation of the WFD with regard to chemical pollution has faced some challenges. In support of the upcoming WFD review in 2019 the research project SOLUTIONS and the European monitoring network NORMAN has analyzed these challenges, evaluated the state-of-the-art of the science and suggested possible solutions. We give 10 recommendations to improve monitoring and to strengthen comprehensive prioritization, to foster consistent assessment and to support solution-oriented management of surface waters. The integration of effect-based tools, the application of passive sampling for bioaccumulative chemicals and an integrated strategy for prioritization of contaminants, accounting for knowledge gaps, are seen as important approaches to advance monitoring. Including all relevant chemical contaminants in more holistic "chemical status" assessment, using effect-based trigger values to address priority mixtures of chemicals, to better consider historical burdens accumulated in sediments and to use models to fill data gaps are recommended for a consistent assessment of contamination. Solution-oriented management should apply a tiered approach in investigative monitoring to identify toxicity drivers, strengthen consistent legislative frameworks and apply solutions-oriented approaches that explore risk reduction scenarios before and along with risk assessment.